• Paraprofessionals are vital threads in creating inclusive schools, yet they are often the least trained and most undervalued individuals in the system.
• Training and retaining paraprofessionals is a critical step for school leaders to foster inclusion without needing extensive resources.
• Strategies such as “lifelines” and “32 ways to increase para retention” provide practical solutions that can be implemented immediately.

Episode Download/Handout

• Lifelines for Challenging Behavior: A guide for paraprofessionals to support students in regulating their nervous systems and returning to a learning-ready state.
• 32 Ways to Increase Retention: Proven strategies for showing appreciation, providing professional development opportunities, and supporting paras in their critical roles.

Highlights from the Handout

• Julie’s Favorite: Personalized thank-you notes for paras, which build respect and foster stronger relationships.
• Kristie’s Favorite: Allowing paras professional learning time, even in small, structured increments, to ensure they can continuously develop their skills.

Practical Tips

1. Write Personalized Thank-You Notes: Show your appreciation by writing weekly notes to paras, highlighting specific contributions or moments when they made a difference. This small gesture fosters respect, connection, and morale.
2. Empower Paraprofessionals with Roles and Training: Assign meaningful responsibilities such as leading small groups or managing specific tasks, and provide short, on-demand professional development opportunities to strengthen their skills.
3. Make Space for Professional Learning: Relieve paras for short periods to engage in focused learning sessions. Even 10 minutes of dedicated training on topics like behavioral strategies or inclusion practices can have a significant impact.
4. Use “Lifelines” to Respond to Challenging Behavior: Equip paras with simple strategies like offering supportive silence or reducing visual clutter to help students regulate their emotions and return to a learning-ready state. For example, encouraging a calm tone, slower movements, and minimizing environmental distractions. 

3. Resources from the Episode